No Bang In DaBangg

Vijaya Kumar

India

Dec 28, 2012

If you did not know what to expect when you walked in to watch Arbaaz Khan's home production and maiden directorial venture, Dabangg 2, it is likely you would come out of the theatre clapping loudly. If you had a clear expectation of what was in store, you would just come out clapping. If you watched the movie because you missed seeing the original Dabangg, then it is likely that you will come out loudly chiding yourself for having watched it.

The songs are hummable, and Sajid Wajid have composed tunes that are melodious. Unfortunately, all song situations seem forced. The novelty of the item numbers seems to be wearing away fast; something that was bound to happen as a result of overexposure. As a result, Kareena Kapoor's gyrations in the Fevicol number produce less oomph than the 'Munni' number.

All the actors―Salman Khan, Sonakshi Sinha, Vinod Khanna, Arbaaz Khan and Prakash Raj―are adequate. Sonakshi's face continues to radiate freshness, although she is already five films old. But Salman Khan looks jaded. The movements no longer entertain; they are laboured, and the spontaneity is withering away.

Abhinav Kashyap, who directed Dabangg, had infused it with slickness, in the midst of the melodrama, action and comedy. Unfortunately Arbaaz Khan has a tame story, and adopts a linear approach, sans any innovation – and riddles it with clichés. The only truly entertaining part is when Chulbul Pandey makes a prank call to his father (Vinod Khanna).

Imagine a mega-sized fire-cracker which has been soaked in a damp environment, and then lit: the Bang in Dabangg 2 is nowhere to be heard.